Triangle Similarity Theorem Identification: Finding the ABC-DEF Ratio

Triangle Similarity with Angle-Angle Correspondence

According to which theorem are the triangles below similar?

What is their ratio of similarity?


AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFF

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 According to which theorem are the triangles similar? And what is the similarity ratio?
00:03 Equal angles according to the given (Z)
00:08 Equal angles according to the given (Z)
00:12 When 2 angles are equal in a triangle, then the third one too
00:19 The triangles are similar according to AA
00:33 Let's find the similarity ratio using the angles
00:37 Corresponding sides are opposite to equal angles
00:47 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

According to which theorem are the triangles below similar?

What is their ratio of similarity?


AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFF

2

Step-by-step solution

To determine which theorem proves the triangles are similar, we'll use the Angle-Angle (AA) Similarity Theorem:

  • Step 1: Check the angles ABC \angle ABC and DEF \angle DEF , and ACB \angle ACB and DFE \angle DFE .
  • Step 2: Since the problem implies these angles are equal, the AA criterion confirms the triangles are similar.

Next, we calculate the ratio of similarity:

  • Step 3: Identify the corresponding sides, such as AB AB and ED ED , BC BC and DF DF , and AC AC and EF EF .
  • Step 4: Establish the correct ratio:
    ABED=BCDF=ACEF\frac{AB}{ED} = \frac{BC}{DF} = \frac{AC}{EF}

Therefore, according to the AA similarity theorem, the triangles are similar with the ratio of similarity ABED=BCDF=ACEF \frac{AB}{ED}=\frac{BC}{DF}=\frac{AC}{EF} .

The correct choice is:

AA, ABED=BCDF=ACEF \frac{AB}{ED}=\frac{BC}{DF}=\frac{AC}{EF}

3

Final Answer

AA, ABED=BCDF=ACEF \frac{AB}{ED}=\frac{BC}{DF}=\frac{AC}{EF}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • AA Similarity Rule: Two equal angles prove triangles are similar
  • Corresponding Sides: Match vertices in order: A↔E, B↔D, C↔F
  • Check Ratios: All three ratios AB/ED = BC/DF = AC/EF are equal ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Matching sides incorrectly based on position
    Don't match sides just because they look similar in the diagram = wrong correspondence! This leads to incorrect ratios and wrong answers. Always identify corresponding vertices first by matching equal angles, then write the ratio properly.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Is the similarity ratio between the three triangles equal to one?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I know which sides correspond to each other?

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Look at the angle markings in the diagram! The vertices with equal angles correspond to each other. Then match sides by connecting corresponding vertices in order.

Why is it AA theorem and not AAA?

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If two angles are equal, the third angle must also be equal (since angles in a triangle sum to 180°). So AA automatically gives us AAA!

What's the difference between AB/ED and AB/DE?

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Order matters! The ratio ABED \frac{AB}{ED} means side AB from triangle ABC corresponds to side ED from triangle DEF. Always keep the triangles in the same order.

Can I use SAS instead of AA for similarity?

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Only if you have two proportional sides and the included angle equal. From the diagram, we can see equal angles, so AA is the most direct approach here.

How do I write the similarity ratio correctly?

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Write it as triangle 1 sidetriangle 2 side \frac{\text{triangle 1 side}}{\text{triangle 2 side}} keeping the same order for all ratios. If ABC~DEF, then ABDE=BCEF=ACDF \frac{AB}{DE} = \frac{BC}{EF} = \frac{AC}{DF} .

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